Teresa,
this is kinda off topic and the folk kinda frown about non metal stuff (though there is some metal welding rod driving the feet), but a couple years ago I went into appearred to be an art gallery and discovered it was a place that sold funeral urns.
One was an animated sculpture.
When you turned the crank all sorts of decorations on the background started moving up down and around, then a coffin lid popped open and a nun stood up and danced. I never did quite figure out how that all worked.
Last Summer we got to meet the lady that made it, and earlier this month she came out to visit with a few of her projects in hand. All parts hand carved including the gears, all mechanisms designed or adapted by her.
Walking the dog.
two views
and a video of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMqkJDfcdiw